Operating lever



c. OFOLO OPERATING LEVER Dec. 6, 1938.

Filed Aug. 13, 1936 fnveni'or Char/es Opo/o H t iorneys Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPERATING LEVER Charles Opolo, Culver City, Calif.

Application August 13, 1936, Serial No. 95,803

5 Claims.

There are very many mechanical constructions employing levers in which the length of the lever on opposite sides of the fulcrum is unequal so that a comparatively small force applied to the long arm of the lever acting through a longer distance, develops a much greater work force or pressure from the shorter end of the lever on the opposite side of the fulcrum, this having however a movement through a much shorter distance than the end to which the actuating force is applied. However, there are many instances in lever constructions in which it may be inconvenient or the actuating force may be applied in a better manner if such force moves through a shorterdistance than would be required on an are from the fulcrum to the end of the lever to which the force is applied. Again there are many instances in which in the operation of a lever in which work is done by the short end of the lever which may be termed remote from the fulcrum, that the pressure or pull developed by this short or working end is substantially uniform for a portion of the stroke but a very high pressure or tension pull is necessary at or adjacent the end of the stroke of the lever in which the work end moves through a shorter distance but develops a much increased pressure or tension pull depending on the manner in which the lever is hooked up to the work to be done thereby. This result cannot be readily accomplished by a single lever having but one fulcrum in which the long end of the lever moves through a long are.

An object therefore of my invention is in the construction of a. system of multiple levers connected by links and pivots so that for instance,

the operated end to which the force is applied,

is moved through a much shorter distance than required for a lever having the length from the main fulcrum to the end to which the force is applied. ,Another feature of this type of lever is that the direction of motion of the operated end of the compound lever is applied at a substantially constant angle to the lever end instead of through varying angles where the operating end of the lever swings on the are from the main fulcrum. In many cases this gives a more desirable manner of applying the force for operating the compound lever than where the angle of application of the force continually changes if a single lever were moved from one extreme position to another in a direct arc.

Therefore as to one form of my invention, an object and feature thereof is a construction by which I employ a main lever and a complementary link, the main lever being journaled on a main fulcrum and the complementary link on a pivot offset therefrom with the ends of these levers connected to a cross link formed integral with the operated lever. Where the main lever and complementary links from their fulcrum and pivot respectively to the pivotal connection of the cross link are substantially of equal length and the cross link has a length equal to the distance between the main fulcrum and the pivot of the complementary link, the main lever and the complementary links have what might be termed a parallel motion, this being due to a quadrilateral being formed of the main lever, the complementary links, the cross links and the fixed structure between the main fulcrum and the pivot of the complementary link. Therefore the operated lever which as above mentioned is formed integral with the link or rigidly connected thereto, moves with a parallel motion instead of in an arcuate motion. Therefore the direction of a force applied to the outer or free end of the operated lever maintains substantially a constant angle to such lever.

A further object and feature of my invention is a modification of this comparatively simple type of lever in which the main lever and the complementary link are of substantially the same length, in which modification one of the levers is of shorter length than the other. Presuming therefore that the complementary link is shorter than the main lever and the link with its inte- 'gral operated lever is connected in a similar manner to the free ends of the main and the complementary lever, a reverse action may be applied to the operated lever to give an applied force from the work end of the main lever which is substantially constant and at approximately the same rate of progression for a portion of the stroke and then the force applied is materially increased but the distance of application is decreased for the final action of the lever. Thus presuming the operated lever is moved by hand, a thrust action may be used to give the first portion of the movement of the work end of the main lever when the force of the Work done is substantially constant and then in the final action a pull may be given to the operated lever which action continues the direction of angular movement of the main lever but applies a considerable force due to an action being developed somewhat similar to a compound link. With this type of lever having the main lever longer than the complementary link and depending on the length of the link and the spacing apart of the main fulcrum and the, fulcrum of the complementary link, the angular direction of the applied force changes with the motion of the operated lever from its one extreme position at for instance the beginning of a stroke and its position at the end of a stroke and as above mentioned, in fact by the desired proportions of the levers, the direction of force may be changed. Thus the operated lever may have applied thereto both a thrust and a pull or vice versa to give a continuous movement of the main lever in the one arcuate direction.

A further characteristic of my invention, particularly when using a main lever and complementary link of different lengths, is that a toggle action may be developed towards the end of the stroke of the work end of the long or power lever due to the proximate alignment of the link and the short lever. Such action may be used to develop a very high pressure or tension from the work end of the long or power lever. In fact, the lengths of the levers and the link together with the position of the main fulcrum and the pivot of the complementary link may be arranged so that at the position of maximum pressure or tension of the power lever, the device may be in effect locked by this toggle action.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawing which is intended to be somewhat diagrammatic to illustrate mainly the lever construction and not the specific application of such lever to various devices.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a type of lever in which the main and complementary lever are of the same length and remain parallel, the operated lever in this case having a parallel motion.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modification and may be considered as taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 3. This shows the main or power lever being longer than its complementary lever this type being adapted for a reverse movement of the operated lever to secure a continuous movement in an arc of the main or power lever and also showing the toggle action to apply the greatest power from the work end of the power lever.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevationshowing an adaptation of the lever system of Figs. 2 and 3 to a pump or equivalent mechanism.

Dealing first with the construction of Fig. 1, this employs a fixed structure II which may be two beams or channels spaced apart and having a main fulcrum l2. On this is mounted the main or power lever I3 which has a short or work end 4 and a long end I5, thus giving the differential turning moment relative to the fulcrum I2 for doing work from the end I6 of the short part of the lever. For sake of illustration of an operation to be performed, a rod I1 is indicated as connected to the eye at the end I6 of the lever.

The complementary link 20 is pivoted at 2| to the frame II and a link 22 has a pivotal connection at 23 to the end of the long portion of the lever I3 and a pivot 24 connects the link to the free end of the complementary link 20. In this construction the distance 25 between the fulcrum l2 and the pivot 2| is intended to be equal to the length of the link 22 between the pivoted connections 23 and 24.

The operated lever 26 is preferably formed integral with the link 22 and extends upwardly at right angles thereto having a hand grip 21 at the top, this being the place for applying the operating force which may be in the direction of the reversed arrows 28.

By this construction there is a quadrilateral formed by the section I5 of the power lever l3, the complementary link 20, the link 22 and the fixed structure between the fulcrum I2 and the pivot 2| indicated by the distance measurement 25. On account of this quadrilateral connection the power lever I3 and the complementary link 2|] remain parallel and as the frame II is shown as horizontal, the link 22 in its movement is always horizontal so that the operated lever 26 is always vertical. Hence the power applied in either pulling or thrusting this lever may be always at right angles to the lever 26, no matter whether this lever is to the left or to the right of its central position, the central position being indicated in full lines and two displaced positions by the dotted lines, the direction of pull or thrust being that of the reversed arrows 28. The action thus is quite different from the case in which the power lever and a single lever would be extended to have the length of the main lever portion I5 and the length of the operated lever 26. With a single lever for instance at the extreme position as shown in the dotted line to the right indicated at 29, the handle end of such lever would have to move a greater distance to give the same angularity of movement of the lever I3 than that shown by my compound lever construction. While with this compound lever having the parallel motion of the operated lever 26 and the hand grip 21 and although the hand grip moves in an arc, nevertheless for many purposes it is more convenient to move this operated lever with the parallel motion than in an arcuate motion and as above mentioned, the applied force may be always approximately at right angles to the lever 26. It is obvious that some mechanical means of applying power instead of hand operation may be applied to the end 21 of the lever 26. A compound lever of this type is not intended to have a very great angular movement of the main or power lever l3. 7

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the stationary frame indicated by the numeral 40 has two beams 4| or the like spaced apart and with the main fulcrum 42 extending therethrough. On this is fulcrumed the main or power lever 43, this having a long portion 44 above the fulcrum and a short or work portion 45 below the fulcrum, this short portion being shown as having an eye 46 at the work end of the lever to which could be connected the mechanical device to which power is to be applied by means of the lever.

A pair of stands or supports 41 are shown as attached to each of the beams 4| and thus spaced apart. At the upper end of these stands are the pivots 48 of the complementary link 49, this link being shown as having two rods 50, each connected by the pivot 48 to the stands 41, these pivots being in axial alignment and parallel to the fulcrum 42. A link 5| has a pivot 52 to the upper end of the long section 44 of the lever 43. There is also a second pivot 53 connecting the opposite end of the link to the upper ends of the two rods 50 which form the complementary shorter link 49. This link may be properly shaped in accordance with the spacing apart of the rods 50 and the relative position of the main lever 43 and the complementary link 49.

The operated lever 54 is formed integral with the link 5| and has an eye 55 at its upper end to which a mechanical device may be connected for applying force to the upper end of this operated lever 54. It will be noted in the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 that a different shaped quadrilateral is formed in which one side consists of the section 44 of the power fulcrum 43 between the pivot 52 and the fulcrum 42. The complementary link 49 having the rods 59 between the pivots 53 and 48 forms the opposite side, the link 5| forms the third side, the fourth side being the fixed distance indicated at 55' between the ful-.

crum 42 and the pivots 48. It will be noted in the construction shown in full lines that when the main fulcrum lever is vertical that the complementary link 49 converges upwardly and that in this position the link 5! has a slight upward slope from its pivot 53 to 52 and further that the operated lever 54 is not symmetrical as to the link 5! but offset slightly from the center and not exactly at right angles to the line between the pivots 52 and 53.

It will be noted in the construction of Figs. 2 and 3 that the operated lever 54 is illustrated in different positions. For instance, one extreme po sition is shown by the dotted line indicated at A in which it will be noted that the link 5| and the complementary link 49 having the rods 50 act substantially as a toggle. This will cause either a very high pressure or pull to be developed by the movement of the short end or work portion 45 of the main or power lever but during this final action the amount of movement is quite restricted. The position B shown in full lines shows the operated lever 54 substantially upright and in which the movement from the position on the right hand side shown at C is inthe same direction. An intermediate position is indicated at D by the center lines of the levers and the links and at E by a similar set of center lines. It will be noted that in the movement from B to A through the intermediate position E there is a reversal of direction of travel of the upper end of the operated lever 54. A further somewhat extreme position is indicated at F by the center lines in which it will be noted that the long portion 44 of the power lever 43 may move past the pivots 48. Thus between the positions F and B the operated lever 54 moves without a reversal of direction but this reversal of direction is only at the end of the stroke when the toggle function is brought into action.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the are 55 shows the path of travel of the pivot 52 connected to the upper end of the power lever 43 and the are 51 indicates the path of movement of the pivot 53 at the upper end of the complementary link 49 having the rods 59. It will be noted that these two arcs intersect in two positions. This causes the toggle action to be developed and also the reversal in the direction of movement of the upper end of the lever 54. If it is intended to operate this by hand, a hand grip end 58 may be attached to a socket 59 at the upper end of the lever 54.

In Fig; 4 is shown an adaptation of the lever system of Figs. 2 and 3 to a pump. In this instance the pump is designated by the assembly numeral 60 having a pump barrel 6| with an operating plunger 62 reciprocating therein. A clamp 83 is utilized to secure a substantial fixed frame structure 64 to the pump structure. The main power lever 65 is shown as having a fulcrum at 56 on the center portion 61 of the frame 64. A collar 68 attached to this main lever divides such lever into two portions 69 and 10. A link ll connects the collar 68 to the upper end of the plunger 62.

The upper end of. the frame 64 is divided having two spaced arms 12 with a function equivalentto the spaced supports 4'! of Fig. 3. These arms have a horizontal section 13 which may have a series of eyes 14. The complementary link 15 may be of different lengths and pivoted in any one of the eyes. For instance, it is shown as pivoted at 16, this giving a longer complementary lever than if the pivot were at the outer end of the horizontal arm 13.

(The link has its upper end pivoted at 8| to the outer end of the complementary link 15 and at 82 to the outer end of the main or power lever 85.

The operating connection from the power lever 65 to the pump plunger 62 includes the collar 58 pivoted at 83 to the link 'II. This latter link has its lower end connected by a pivot 84 to the plunger 62. The operated lever 85 shown as formed integral with the link 80 may havea series of eyes 86 to which an operating device may be connected, such as the walking beam or the like of a driving mechanism for a pump presuming the pump is used for deep well pumping. In order to show the pump as being hand operated, a socket structure 81 is shown at the outer end of the lever 85 and in this socket there is connected the hand grip end 88.

In Fig. 4 the are 89 is the curve on which the pivot 82 moves having as its center the main fulcrum 58. The are 99 shows the movement of the pivot 8| of the complementary link 15 presuming this to be pivoted at 15. One position, that is, the substantially horizontal position of the lever and link, is indicated with the operated lever 85 having the position marked M in full lines and having a lower position marked N. It will be noted in the position N that the link 80 has started its toggle action with the complementary link 15 and thus would develop a downward thrust on the link H and hence on the plunger 52 of a considerable amount. An intermediate position shown by the center lines 0 gives an indication of approximately the position in which the outer end of the operated lever 85 would have an upward or a reverse direction of movement presuming it would have been moved down from the full line position M or positions above the horizontal.

Various changes may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lever construction comprising a fixed structure having a main lever fulcrumed thereto, a complementary link pivotally connected to the fixed structure, said link being shorter than the main lever and its path of movement being offset laterally from the path of movement of the main lever, a cross link pivotally connected to the free ends of the lever and link with an operating lever integral with the cross link, the path of movement of the pivots of the cross link being adapted to form two separate arcs having two points of intersection, the main lever in the movement in one direction being adapted to pass the pivot of the complementary link and cause the arcs to have one of the points of intersection, a second link pivotally connected to the main lever and an operative device pivotally connected to said second link.

2. A lever assembly having a power lever with a main fulcrum and having a pivoted work connection for a device to be operated by the power 75 lever, a pivoted complementary link, means to position the fulcrum and the said pivot a fixed distance apart, a cross link pivotally connected to the lever and to the complementary link, there being a difference of length between the lever and the complementary link, an operative means formed integral with the cross link, the arcs of travel of the pivots of the cross link to the lever and the complementary link having in part of their movement a diverging path whereby the cross link may be brought into substantially the same plane as the shorter lever or complementary link and thereby develop a toggle action of the lever assembly.

3. A lever assembly having in combination a power lever with a main fulcrum, a pivoted work connection to the power lever for developing a movement of a mechanism, a complementary link having a pivot, means to position the fulcrum and the pivot a fixed distance apart, a cross link having a first pivot to the fulcrum and a second pivot to the complementary link, the length of the power lever from the fulcrum to the first pivot being greater than the length of the complementary lever from its pivot to the second pivot, the first and second pivots operating each in its own arc, the said arcs diverging whereby a toggle action may be developed with the pivot of the complementary lever, the second and the first pivot of the cross link being insubstantially the same plane.

4. A lever assembly comprising in combination a power lever having a main fulcrum, a pivotal work connection to part of the power lever, a complementary link having a fixed pivot, means to position the fulcrum and the fixed pivot a definite distance apart and parallel one to the other, a cross link having a. first pivotal arcane;

connection to the lever and a second pivotal connection to the link, an operated lever formed integral with the cross link, said lever when moved in an arcuate movement in relation to the fulcrum causing the first and second pivots each to travel in its own are, the said arcs being adapted to intersect at two points, the complementary link being shorter than the main lever from its fulcrum to the first pivot whereby on one side of one of the points of intersection of the said arcs, the arcs rapidly diverge whereby the cross link and the complementary link may be brought into substantial alignment with the fixed pivot of the complementary link and the first and second pivots of the cross link in substantially the same plane and thereby develop a toggle action of the lever assembly.

5. A lever assembly comprising in combination a fixed structure having a fulcrum with a power lever connected thereto, a fixed pivot with a complementary link connected thereto, a cross link having a first pivot connecting to the lever and a second pivot connected to the link, the length of the lever being longer than the length of the link, an operated lever formed integral with the cross link, a power transmitting connection adjustable on the lever between its fulcrum and the first pivot, the lever, the link and the cross link when rotated on their fulcrum and pivot respectively developing separate arcs of travel for the said first and second pivots of the cross link, .in one portion of the travel said arcs diverging whereby the link and the cross link may be brought into substantial alignment, that is, with the fixed pivot and the second and first pivot into substantial alignment to develop a toggle action.

CHARLES OPOLO. 

